dillions russian steam bath

Let me confess right away, I am a regular at Dillon's Ladies' Night. It all started three years ago on a fluke with a couple of girlfriends and we were looking for something fun and different to do. I've been going ever since.Keep in mind that appearances are deceiving. Dillon's opened in 1885 and it's steam room, shower room and sauna harken back to a time of functionality rather than esthetics. The upside of this is you don't have to pay premium prices to get a great steam. Additionally, Dillon's has some of the finest massage therapists in Boston that offer their services with great skill and absolutely no pretense. I routinely rotate between them and have never had a bad massage. While these are great reasons to go to Dillons, perhaps the one thing that keeps me coming back are the women. Between staff and patrons, there is a diversity of age, ethnicity, education, and socio-economic background that makes for an amazing community and once you don a towel, it just becomes a group of women enjoying each other's company.

I was a bit nervous at first, not knowing quite what I would be getting myself into, but as soon as a staff member opened the door when I rang the bell my nerves melted away! From the first step into Dillions the staff was incredibly warm and welcoming. My friend had arrived before me, and even though the bath was bustling, the staff knew my friend's name, my name, and let me know where she was and that she had given me a message to come on in. The friendly atmosphere continued through my whole visit, and not just from the staff! There is a definite community feel here, and it is clear that some of the women have been coming for many years. Everyone was warm and welcoming and quick to help answer questions. I was very impressed that every member of staff remembered my name throughout the entire visit. The focus is much more on community and enjoyment than your standard "spa" experience with cold reception, absurd prices, and pretentious amenities that no one really uses. There is a bathroom that can be used for changing, but most of the women are not shy and change in the lobby/locker room area. If you're a frozen New England-er this winter, or just passing through on vacation, I highly recommend making this one of your stops. Bring your hair and face masks, and call ahead to schedule a massage, they fill up quickly! It is also good to note that street parking can be a bit tight, but they do have a small devoted parking lot just for Dillions. I can't wait to go back!!

There is no better way to fight off the winter cold than in the steam at Dillions. This institution has been open for over 100 years and is the only place like this in area. This Russian style bath has a dry sauna and a steam room and also offers affordable massage and platza (a scrub with oak leaves and oil, also known as "Jewish acupuncture") and you will leave with glowing skin and feeling amazing! The staff are so friendly and will make you feel comfortable as a newcomer. Monday night (4-9pm) is the only time the baths are open to women and it's clear that some of the women have been coming years. Still, it didn't feel cliquey at all. The facilities and bathroom are clean. This is not a place for the body shy. The changing rooms are right in the lobby and I didn't see any private showers. I stayed for several hours, coming in and out of the hot rooms to cool off in the lobby and read. And I'm already planning to return next week!